Waco Fire Department

Fire Suppression Division

The Waco Fire Department is the largest paid
department in McLennan County. In 1997, the Waco Fire
Department implemented a First Responder Program to
respond initially to rescue and medical emergencies.
This service was enhanced with cardiac defibrillators in
1998.

In 1997, the Department formed a partnership with
McLennan Community College to establish a college-based
Fire Technology Program, and started hiring only
pre-certified firefighters. In 2010, the Waco Fire
Department will change their hiring process to pay
individuals while attending McLennan Community College
Fire Academy.

The Waco Fire Department has written mutual aid
agreements with several of the surrounding communities.
In July of 1998, for the first time, the department used
helicopters and fixed wing craft for water and fire
retardant drops on several major brush fires. These
were coordinated with the Texas Forest Service.

The Waco Fire Department performs many more services
than just firefighting and EMS. They perform water
rescue, vertical rescue, vehicle extrication, animal
rescue, pre-fire inspections, public education, fire
investigations, and much more.

The Suppression Division is divided into three
shifts. Each shift is supervised by an Assistant Chief.

There are 14 stations in the Waco Fire Department.
Twelve of the stations are strategically located
throughout the city to help provide a response time of
five minutes or less from the time Fire Dispatch
receives the call. Two of the stations are Airport Fire
Stations.